Steering &amp; stabilizing attachment for snow vehicles

ABSTRACT

A runner or ski for a snow vehicle includes a steering and stabilizing attachment comprising a disc which is laterally offset from the runner leaf spring and rotatably connected to a pair of swing arms which are pivotally connected to the runner. A spring connected to the swing arms and the ski urges the disc downwardly through a slot in the ski and yieldably affords floating action of the disc in response to ground engagement.

United States Patent [1 1 LaPlante STEERING & STABILIZING ATTACHMENT FOR SNOW VEHICLES [76] Inventor: Ira J. LaPlante, Route 2, Crivitz,

- Wis. 54114 [22] Filed: May 26, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 147,119 I [52] US. Cl. ..180/5 R, 280/28 [51] Int. Cl. ..B62m 27/00 [58] Field of Search ..280/28, 21 R, 8,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,593,814 7/1971 Banler ..280/28 [451 Apr. 10, 1973 1,053,876 2/1913 Riley ..280/28 Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Assistant Examiner-Robert R. Song Anomey-Wheeler, House & Wheeler [57] ABSTRACT A runner or ski for a snow vehicle includes a steering and stabilizing attachment comprising a disc which is laterally ofiset from the runner leaf spring and rotatably connected to a pair of swing arms which are 7 pivotally connected to the runner. A spring connected to the swing arms and the ski urges the disc downwardly through a slot in the ski and yieldably affords floating action of the disc in response to ground engagement.

JClainsADrawingFigures STEERING & STABILIZING ATTACHMENT FOR SNOW VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Snow vehicles or other vehicles propelled over the surface of the ground typically include ground engaging runners or skis, which are employed to support part of the vehicle and which are connected to steering apparatus to steer the vehicle. On icy or packed snow surfaces there is a lack of positive steering control because of the minimal friction between the under-surface of the ski and the ground surface. Thus lateral slippage of the vehicle occurs during a turn and side slippage on an incline is possible. On uneven surfaces the terrain tends to twist the skis about the steering axis and cause a counter torque about the steering shaft which is sensed by the operator and makes it difficult and tiring for the operator to hold the skis in the intended direction.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a steering and stabilizing device for each runner or ski which affords positive steering control and minimizes torque about the steering axis caused by the uneveness of the surface being.

travelled. The device includes a circular disc or fin with a beveled edge, which is rotatably supportedby a pair of arms which are pivotally mounted to a mounting block on the ski located forwardly of the disc. The disc is received in a slot in the ski and a spring connected between the rearwardly located arm ends and the ski biases the disc through the slot and yieldably allows upward movement of the disc to recess the disc in the slot when travelling on extremely hard surfaces such as ice or pavement and floating action of the disc in response to the changing contour of the surface being travelled. The spring causes the disc to penetrate into the snow and thus reduces side or lateral slippage of the vehicle on turns, inclines, etc.

The disc is located rearwardly of the steering axis of each ski to function as a stabilizing fin to resist turning motion or movement of the skis caused by the changing, irregular ground surface and minimize the undesirable counter-torque induced in the steering axis or steering column.

The disc is also located laterally offset from the compression path of the leaf springs which yieldably connect the skis to the steering linkages so that the discs do not interfere with compression of the leaf springs.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following dis closure.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a snow runner embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings FIG. I discloses a snow runner or ski 10 which is one of a pair of runners employed for supporting and steering a snow vehicle. The runner 10 includes a longitudinally extending channel 12 located along the center line of the runner and including channel legs 14 interconnected by a web portion 16 located above the travellingservice 18 of the ski or runner 10. Means are provided for connecting the runner to a steering column 20. The means includes a leaf spring 22 anchored at each end to the ski 10. The spring is connected to a post 24 provided with a crank 26 which is connected to a crank 30 on the steering column 20 being travelled. In the disclosed construction, the

means comprises a mounting block 36 fixed to the upper surface 38 of the runner 10, a pair of lever arms 40 and 42 which have forward ends pivotally connected to the mounting block 36 by a bolt 44 which forms the second axis. The disc 34 has an axial boss 46 provided with an axial aperture. A bolt 48 extending through apertures in the lever arms and the aperture in the boss 46 rotatably supports the disc 34 on the lever arms 40, 42 and forms the first axis or rotational axis.

The disc 34 is yieldably biased downwardly by a spring 50 which has a lower end 52 (FIG. 2) connected to an eye 54 on the upper surface 38 of the runner and an upper end 56 connected to a cross pin 58 which interconnects the rearward ends of lever arms 40 and 42. The lever arm 42 has a converging arm portion 60 and a portion 62 parallel with lever arm 40 to thus provide a narrow slot or gap 64 to confine and protect the spring 50. The ends of the lever arms 40, 42 have upturned portions which are connected to the cross pin 58 thus to afford use of a longer spring. The spring 50 can easily be disconnected or replaced and thus springs with various spring rates can be substituted if desired for differing surface conditions.

The first axis and rotational axis of the disc 34 provided by the bolt 48 is offset rearwardly from the steering axis of the ski provided by the post 24 to cause the disc 34 to function as a stabilizing fin to maintain the direction of the ski in the intended direction and resist I tendencies of the ski to deviate from the desired direction as a result of uneveness of the ground surface. A distance between the steering pivot of the ski and the first axis of 2 inches was successively tested.

The ski or runner 10 is provided with a slot which receives the disc. The disc is also desirably provided 1. A device for steering and supporting a snow vehicle comprising a snow runner, a steering column providing a steering axis for said runner, means for connecting said runner to said steering column, a disc, means for mounting said disc on said runner to afford rotary movement of said disc about a first axis and translatory floating movement of said disc about a second axis in response to engagement with the surface being travelled, said disc comprises a mounting block on said runner, a pair of spaced lever arms extending rearwardly of said mounting block, means for pivotally connecting said arms to said mounting block, and means for rotatably supporting said disc intermediate the length of said mounting arm including a spring having one end connected to said mounting arms and the other end connected to said runner rearwardly of said disc to yieldably urge said disc downwardly through said slot and to afford yieldable movement of said disc in response to ground engagement.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said runner to said steering column comprises a leaf spring and said lever arms are offset laterally outwardly of said spring to provide clearance between said spring and said lever arms.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said arms has a converging portion and said mounting arms have upturned rearwardly located ends, a cross pin supported in aid arms ends, said spring being connected to said cross pin. a 

1. A device for steering and supporting a snow vehicle comprising a snow runner, a steering column providing a steering axis for said runner, means for connecting said runner to said steering column, a disc, means for mounting said disc on said runner to afford rotary movement of said disc about a first axis and translatory floating movement of said disc about a second axis in response to engagement with the surface being travelled, said disc comprises a mounting block on said runner, a pair of spaced lever arms extending rearwardly of said mounting block, means for pivotally connecting said arms to said mounting block, and means for rotatably supporting said disc intermediate the length of said mounting arm including a spring having one end connected to said mounting arms and the other end connected to said runner rearwardly of sAid disc to yieldably urge said disc downwardly through said slot and to afford yieldable movement of said disc in response to ground engagement.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said runner to said steering column comprises a leaf spring and said lever arms are offset laterally outwardly of said spring to provide clearance between said spring and said lever arms.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said arms has a converging portion and said mounting arms have upturned rearwardly located ends, a cross pin supported in aid arms ends, said spring being connected to said cross pin. 